Hubble telescope finds a planet where it rains glass

In summary: HD 189733b is a gas giant located 63 light years from Earth. It has a daytime temperature of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and possibly rains liquid glass sideways. Hubble doesn't have the resolution to see the planet very well, so this is an artist's impression.
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http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/11/world/space-blue-planet/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Astronomers have found a deep azure blue planet orbiting a star 63 light years away -- the first time they've been able to determine the actual color of a planet outside our solar system, NASA and the European Space Agency said Thursday.
The planet, known as HD 189733b, is a gas giant with a daytime temperature of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit where it possibly rains liquid glass sideways amid 4,500 mph winds, NASA says.

130711222217-01-blue-planet-story-body.jpg
 
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That image is an artist's impression. Hubble doesn't have anywhere close to the resolution to resolve a planet 63 light years away. That planet is about 1/1000 of a Hubble pixel across.
 
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D H said:
That image is an artist's impression. Hubble doesn't have anywhere close to the resolution to resolve a planet 63 light years away. That planet is about 1/1000 of a Hubble pixel across.

Good call! How can they study something that is 1/1000 of a Hubble pixel?
 
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From http://www.nasa.gov/content/nasa-hubble-finds-a-true-blue-planet/#.UeAYkxZiigw:
Hubble's Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph measured changes in the color of light from the planet before, during and after a pass behind its star. There was a small drop in light and a slight change in the color of the light. "We saw the light becoming less bright in the blue but not in the green or red. Light was missing in the blue but not in the red when it was hidden," said research team member Frederic Pont of the University of Exeter in South West England. "This means that the object that disappeared was blue."​

The paper on this was just published in The Astrophysics Journal Letters.

Evans, T. et al., The deep blue color of HD 189733b: albedo measurements with HST/STIS at visible wavelengths, 2013 ApJ 772 L16.
Official paper: http://iopscience.iop.org/2041-8205/772/2/L16
Pre-publication version: http://www.spacetelescope.org/static/archives/releases/science_papers/heic1311.pdf.
 
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This discovery is truly fascinating and highlights the incredible capabilities of the Hubble telescope. The ability to determine the color of a planet outside of our solar system is a major breakthrough in our understanding of the universe. The fact that this planet has a deep blue color and experiences extreme weather conditions, such as raining glass, only adds to the excitement and intrigue surrounding it. This discovery opens up new possibilities for studying the atmospheres of exoplanets and the effects of extreme conditions on their environments. It also serves as a reminder of the vast diversity and complexity of the universe, and the importance of continuing to explore and learn about it through scientific advancements such as the Hubble telescope.
 

1. What is the Hubble telescope and how does it work?

The Hubble telescope is a powerful space telescope that was launched into orbit in 1990. It uses a combination of mirrors and instruments to capture images and data from space. Its location above Earth's atmosphere allows for clear and detailed views of objects in outer space.

2. How did the Hubble telescope find a planet where it rains glass?

The Hubble telescope used a technique called spectroscopy to study the atmosphere of a distant exoplanet called HD 189733b. It detected the presence of high concentrations of silicate particles in the planet's atmosphere, which indicated that glass rain was occurring.

3. How does glass rain form on a planet?

On HD 189733b, the planet's strong winds carry silicate particles high into the atmosphere, where they are heated and vaporized. As the particles cool and condense, they form molten glass droplets that fall as rain. The intense heat and pressure on the planet's surface then solidify the glass into tiny fragments.

4. Could life exist on a planet where it rains glass?

It is highly unlikely that life could exist on HD 189733b, as the extreme conditions on the planet would not be conducive to sustaining life as we know it. However, the discovery of this unique phenomenon can provide valuable insights into the atmospheric processes of other distant planets.

5. What impact does the discovery of glass rain have on our understanding of the universe?

The discovery of glass rain on HD 189733b adds to our growing understanding of the diverse environments that exist in our universe. It also highlights the importance of continued exploration and research into other planets and their atmospheres, as they can provide valuable information about the formation and evolution of our own solar system.

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